Surprising Anti-Aging Benefits of Spring Fruits and Vegetables

Spring is right around the corner. Every year, we look forward to the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables that come with the season. But you may not think about the amazing health benefits of these foods. Fruits like asparagus, peas and strawberries are full of anti-oxidants and nutrients that can help stabilize blood sugar, lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health, which all help to slow the signs of aging and prevent age-related diseases.

Let’s take a look at some of our favorite spring fruits and vegetables.

Asparagus: Lower Blood Pressure and More
Asparagus contains many of the same vitamins, nutrients and powerful anti-aging anti-oxidants, including fiber, folate, and vitamins A, C, E, and K, found in other green vegetables.

In terms of anti-aging properties, specifically, asparagus is rich in folate, which works with vitamin B12 to help prevent cognitive impairment and improve your mental response speed and flexibility.

Finally, asparagus contains the amino acid asparagine, a little known compound that is a natural diuretic. Increased urination can help those with edema, high blood pressure and heart disease, by helping to get rid of excess salts in the body.

In short, eating asparagus is like a triple play of health. It contains antioxidants that help fight cancer and aging, is rich in folate for improved cognitive function and may also help those with heart disease and high blood pressure.

Peas: Look Younger, Feel Younger
Fresh spring peas have a host of benefits to help older people look and feel their best. Antioxidants that include flavonoids, carotenoids, phenolic acids and polyphenols boost your immune system, slow the signs of aging and improve your energy.

Peas also have strong anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce the risks of heart disease and cancer while reducing the signs of aging. In addition, vitamins C and E, the mineral zinc and Omega-3 fatty acids contribute to prevent wrinkles, Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis.

And there’ even more. High fiber and protein content in peas keeps sugar from being absorbed into the body too quickly and causing unsafe blood sugar spikes. Eating peas regularly may even prevent or reverse insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics.

It doesn’t get any better than that, especially when you think about how versatile peas are in cooking (eat them raw, enjoy them in soup, or anything in between), and how good they taste.

Strawberries: Stronger Hair and Bones
We often think of strawberries as a summer fruit, but the first ripe harvests come in spring. They have a number of health benefits particularly important to seniors.

Strawberries contain anthocyanins, which has been shown in studies to booth short term memory by 100 percent in just eight weeks. They also lower the risk of cardiovascular disease because they are rich in flavonoids. Nutrients like potassium, vitamin K and magnesium promote bone health, which is especially important for post-menopausal women. Finally, the biotin in strawberries has strong anti-aging properties, helping the body build strong hair and nails, which often weaken as we age. The antioxidant ellagic acid actually prevents wrinkles and sagging, too. Enjoy them in fruit salad or right off the vine… You may think something that tastes this good shouldn’t be good for you, too… but strawberries are!

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